Direction indicator for motor cars and other vehicles



March 27, 1928. r 1,664,148

' J. w. WOOD DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR MOTOR CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES FiledOct. 11, 1926 7 INVI'NT 01-1 00 5 Q1 9 JOHN MLLIAM Wnon ATTORIVE YSPatented Mar. 27, 1928.

j PATENT omce oIiNwILLIAM woon, OF CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND.

DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR,MOTOR CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES.

Application filed October 11, 1926, Serial No. 140,921, and in NewZealand July so, 1926.

This invention .relates to a direction inclicator for motor-cars, thatis to say an appliance for use by the driver in signalling his intentionto turn the vehicle and refers to that type of appliance wherein adirection-pointing device, such for instance as a -,1.epresentationofahuman hand, is mounted upon aivertical axis to be turnableby thedriver; tocause such direction-pointing deviceto project eitherforwardly orlateral- .lyaccording to the directionit is the inten-..tion of the driveri to proceed A 1 It is the. object of the presentinvention to provide an. appliance o f-this type of novel .andspecialconstruct-ion whereby the said turning; of the direction-pointing devicemay .be conveniently.performed by the driver from his positionwithin'the vehicle insuch a manner as toperrnit of such direction-,pointingdevice being turned through an. an-

gle of180 thereby enabling an intention to turn to either right orleftto be correctly indicated, While a further object is to provideaconstruction wherein the said turning of the device from its forward toits lateral positions in either direction Will automatically give anaudible signal, asby momen- 11s a drum lformed with a. pair ofperiphtarily sounding an electric horn, while a still further object ofthe inv'enionis to provide a construction 'of'this nature wherein theturning of the direction-pointing deviceinto its lateral positions toright or left will an tomaticallyr complete-an electric circuit by meansof which the said device is illuini nated.-

Thus, by one movement of the controlling ,device,' the desired directionis indicated, the horn'sounded, and the direction-pointing de viceilluminated. v ,WVith these and other objects in view. tln inventionconsists of the novel construction and arrangement hereinafterdescribed.

1 In order that the natureof the invention and its construction may beclearly understood it will now be fully described and ex plained Withreference to the-accompanying drawings, in which I Fig. 1isaperspectiveview showing the indicator installed upon a motor-car,

Fig. 2is a side elevation of the indicator, i p 9' Fig. 3is a plan-viewof the same. in which a portion of the reflector and a portion of one ofthe wire-receiving lugs. are

'laterally from shown broken away toreveal the internal arrangements, rFig; 41s a perspective view; of the drum by means of which the turningof the direc tron-pointing devlce is attained,

Fig. 5show s in perspective the said drum and its mounting, illustratingthe construction employed in automatically giving the audible signal andi i-controlling the illumination of the direction-pointing device, Flg.6is a long tudinal sect on through ithe arm carrying thedirection-pointing device and illustrating a special constructionployed, also for indicating w an intention to stop the vehicle, and,Fig. 7.is aplan viewof the construction shown in Fig. 6. v a 7 f.

QThe construction comprises a cylindrical casing 1 disposed with itsaxis vertical and adapted fonattachinent to the exterior of thecar atan appropriatepoint, as for instance by means of a bracket 2 extendingone side of the wind-shield 3 of'the can Rotatably mounted within thesaid casing eral grooves 5 an d 6 in which are received a pair ofv Wiresortenslonal connections 7 I and 8 (Fig. 14) wound around the said drumin employed in cases where it, is desired that vsuch d1rect1on-po1ntingdevice shall beem- (Fig. 1) secured to a'suitable fixed position withinthe car, such for instance asthe dashboard 10. Within the saidstationary mounting will be contained a rotatable drum towhichthe endsofthe said connections are attached such drum being formed with a pair ofperipheral grooves in which thesaid connections are wound in oppositedirections in precisely; the same manner as that of the drum 4 alreadydescribed. 1 r I I The rotatable mounting of'the said drum conveniencein assembling 4 within the cylinder 1 is preferably accom- Inconstruction the said cylindrical casing.

1 is preferably divided along a circumferential line at a pointcorresponding with the portion of the drum 4 between the twowirereceiving grooves 5 and 6 of the latter for the parts and placingthe said wires 7 and 8 in position.

The said wires the Bowden-cable type, as here shown and consisting of aflexible wire extending through a housing the two ends of the latterbeing fixedone tothe cylinder 1 and the other to the stationary mounting9 of the aforementioned control. For this purpose the two parts of thecylinder are formed with'a pair of outwardly projecting lugs 15 and 16,one upon each part, and which lugs are adapted to fit togetherface-to-face when such parts are assembled, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.In corresponding partsof the contacting faces of the lugs 15 and 16 areformed grooves 17 adapted when such parts are assembled toconstituteentrancepassages for the wires to the interior of the cylinderand to receive and clamp the ends of the said housings of such wires,suitable means such as a screw 18 being employed to secure the lugs 15and 16 firmly together.-

In the case of the stationary mounting 9 ofv the control also asimilarpair of grooved lugs will preferably be provided to clamp the other oropposite ends of the housings and to provide the required entrancepassages for the wires to the interior. 1

At its upper end the drum 4 is formed or provided with a suitable cover19 to enclose the upper end of the cylinder 1, such cover beingpreferably formed with a downturned flange 20 to surround the wall. ofthe cylinder 1 at its upper portion.

The direction-pointing device 21, consisting preferably of arepresentation of a human hand as here shown, is carried upon the outerend of a horizontal arm 22, the other or inner end of which is connectedwith the drum 4 so as to turn therewith.

In the preferred form of the construction, as here shown the said innerend of the arm 22 is arranged to overlie the cover 19, which cover turnsas one piece with the drum 4 and is preferably provided at its upperside with a boss 23 of square or other formation to be non-rotatablyreceived in a correspondingly shaped hole formed through the arm 22 nearits said inner end. For the purpose of clamping the arm firmly in placeupon the cover a screw-threaded stud 24, which conveniently consists ofthe upper end, of the 7 and 8 are preferably of drum-spindle 12, isarranged to project upwardly from the said boss to receive aclamping-nut 25 adapted to bear upon the upper side of the said a'iin.

Means are provided forilluminating the direction-pointing device inorder to render the same clearly visible at night. The said illuminatingmeans consists of a reflector 26 encircling the arm 22 and arranged toface outward towards the said direction-pointing device 21 and withinwhich reflector are mounted a pair of electric lamps as 27 arranged oneto either side of the arm In construction the said reflector 26 mayconveniently be formed integral with the portion of the arm- 22extending inward thereform to its said point of connection with thedrum, while the remaining or outer portion of such arm and thedirectionpointing device 21 may be made separate and detachablyconnected to such inner portion. This is preferably accomplished byforming horizontally through the centre ofthe reflecv tor a suitableslot into which the end of the Outer portion of the arm is adapted to beslipped and secured therein by suitable means such for instance as a pin27 passing transversely through the said slot and through the containedportion of the arm.

According to the present invention also the'lower end of the drum 4 andthe adjacent inner face of the lower end of the cylindrical casing 1 areprovided with electrical contacts designed to' control an electriccircuit containing a horn or other audible signalling device in such'amanner that the said circuit will thereby be closed when the drum is inprocess of turning to carry its directionpointing device from oneindicating position to another, such circuit beingopehed by the contactswhen the drum arrives at any of its said indicating positions.

In the preferred form of the construction as here shown (Fig. this isaccomplished by providing a brush or spring-plunger 28 mounted in thelower end of the cylinder and insulated therefrom, such brush beingadapted to bear against the lower end of the drum 4 and thereby completethe circuit. The said lower end of the drum 4 is provided also, at thosepoints at which the said brush or plunger 28 is adapted to bear when thedirection-pointingdevice occupies any of its direction-indicatingpositions,'with.insulating surfaces consisting conveniently of pieces ofelectrically insulatingmaterial 29 inlaid in its surface in order thatthe said circuit may be broken when the device is in any of its saidindicating positions. If desired however the said arrangement may bereversed by mounting the brush or plunger 28 in the lower end of thedrum and the insulating inlay 29 in the lower end of the cylinder.

According to the present invention'also "the said lower end ofthedrumand casing will be provided with further electrical con-"tacts'controlling the supply of'current to the aforementioned lamps 27,such contacts bevertically disposed cheeks 39 between which thedirection-pointing device 21'is received ing so arranged to complete thecircuit and so cause the lamps to light when the d1rect1onpomt1ng deviceoccupies either of its lateral indicating positions;

In the preferred-form of the construction as here shown the'saidcontacts consist of a brush or spr ng-p lunger 30 mounted in thesaidlower end ofthe drum 4 and a pair of contact surfaces 31 and 32 mountedin the lowerend of the cylinc er and each positioned-at one of thosepoints at which the brush 30 is adapted-to bearwhen thedirection-pointing-device'occupics its lateral positionsso as toindicate turning to left or right, the arrangement being such that the-=said circuit will be completed only-when the brush 30is incontact-withthe surface 31 -or the surface-32.

1 Eachzofthe said contact'su-rfaces 31and 32 will bearrang'edto-l e'flu'sh witlrthe inner surface oftheilower endofthe cylinder andinsulated therefrom. In cases where it; is desired to causethefllamps'to light when the direction-pointing device :o ccupies itsforward position, a third contact surface similar in allirespects willbe 'provided'at the point in the lower end'ofvthe cylinder at which thebrush 3O bears when the direc tion-pointing 'device occupies its saidforward'position. Y i

the audible signalling circuit already explained the positions of thesaidiighting circuit contacts may if desiredbercversed byarrangmg theplunger-30min the lower end of the cylinder and the contact-surfaces 31and 32 in the lower end cf the drum.

In the case of the audible signalling circuitone wire will be connectedby means of a terminal 34 with the brush 28 while the necessary returnwill be provided through the metal of the drum and cylinder which willbe carthed to the chassis of a the car.

In the case of the lighti 11g circuit wires 35 from the electric systemof the car will be connected by terminals 36 with the contact surfaces31 and 32, while further wires 37 will connect one terminal of each lamp27 with a terminal 38 connecting with the brush 30, the earth returnthrough the metal of the device providing the remainder of the circuit.

In cases where it is desired to enable the device to be employed by thedriver in indicating his intention to stop the vehicle, the hand, orother direction-pointing device 21 will be arranged to enable it to beturned upon the arm 22 from its normal horizontal position into avertical position as indicated in dotted'linesFig. 6, to give thedesired signal. Y

" I For this purpose the outer: end of the arm (Figs. 6 and 7 willterminate in a pair of and pivoted by means of a pin or the like 40extending transversely through such cheeks "and the intervening portionof the directionpointing device to allow of the latter being turned uponsuch pivot in a vertical plane. I

Formed integral with, or rigidly attached to the said portion ofthedirection-pointing device contained between the checks, is a pulley 41having a peripheral groove in wvhiclr is received a wire 42, preferablyof the Bowdc'n-cable type, having-one end ating led from they saidpulley preferably through a suitable passage as 43 formed lengthwisethrough the arm 22 as here shown 1 11 1 i 1' The arrangement is suchthat the said hand or other direction-pointing device 21 will normallyextend horizontallyfin line with the arm 22 for the-purpose of givingthe direction indications. When astop' signal istorbe given however thesaid manipulabledevic'e controllingthe wire 42 will be operated so as totension such wire and so turn the. direction-pointing device'21 upon itspivot 40 to project upward from the arm as indicated in dotted linesFig.6, Q

VVhen it is desired to restorethe said direction-pointing device-to itsformer, or nor- .mal position after the stop signal has been given thesaid manipulab'leicontrolling,device Willbeturned in theother .orreverse ,directionthereby relaxingthe tension of the wire 42 and sopermitting the direction pointing device to return either by gravity orwith the assistance of a suitable spring. In order to facilitate thesaid return movement of the di'rection-pointing device by gravity thesaid pivot 40 will preferably be arranged slightly upward and inwardfrom the centre of such device, as here shown, in order that such devicewhen in its upward position may have a tendency to turn by gravity intoits normal or horizonthe drum 4 will be so placed as to cause thedircction pointing device to extend forwardly as shown in full linesFig. 1, While an intention to turn to right or left will be indicated bythe driver in turning such drum so as to cause the direction-pointingdevice to project laterally in the desired direction as indicated indotted lines and during which movement the audible signal will be givenby the said contacts while on arrival of the direction-pointing deviceat its indicating osition the said lamps will be caused to light by theoperation of the said second set of contacts thereby illuminating suchdirection-pointing device.

I claim:

1. A direction indicator for a vehicle comprising a vertically disposedcylindrical cas- 1ng mountable upon the exterior of the vehicle, a drumrotatable within said casing, a cap enclosing the upper end of saidcasing and fixed to said drum to rotate therewith, a horizontal armcarrying a direction-pointing device fixed upon said cap to turntherewith, and a pair of tensional connections wound in oppositedirections in peripheral grooves around said drum and differentiallytensionable' by a controlling device operable by the driver for thepurpose of turning said drum to cause said direction-pointing device toproject forwardly or laterally in either direct-ion.

trance passages for the latter to the interior of the casing.

3. A direction indicator for a vehicle comgaged with said boss, adirection pointing device carried by said arm and cable means passingthrough'the casing and connected to the drum to provide for rotation ofthe drum and arm in either direction.

4. A direction indicator comprising i a cylindrical casing having abottom closure, a

rotatable cap closing the upper end of the casing, a drum mounted in thecasing and provided with at spindle having its lower end projectingdownwardly through the bottom closure of the casing and its upper endformed to provide a threaded stud projecting upwardly through said cap,a square boss rigid with the cap and receiving the threaded studtherethrough, an arm provided at its inner end with a square openingreceiving said boss, a clamping nut carried by the threaded stud andserving toholcl the arm in place, a direction pointing device carried bysaid arm and cables passing through openings formed in said casing andsecured to said drum to provide a means for rotating the drum and arm inthe desired direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name at the city ofChristchurch, in the Dominion of New Zealand the 13th, day of September,1926.

JOHN WILLIAM WOOD.

